Braintree Delays Poll Location Reductions For Resident Input

BRAINTREE, MA — The Town Council delayed deciding whether to permanently consolidate Braintree's 12 polling locations into three voting centers to give residents time to provide input.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the town temporarily consolidated the town's 12 precincts into three voting centers, each serving voters for four precincts. Under the plan, voters in Districts 1 and 2 voted at Braintree High School, District 3 and 4 at the East Middle School and District 5 and 6 residents at South Middle School. In past elections, every precinct had its own independent voting location except for precincts 5A and 1A, which both voted at Town Hall.

Town Clerk Jim Casey proposed the change and said it should become permanent because there's not going to be as much demand for in-person voting in future elections because of early voting and mail-in ballots.

But the Town Council voted Tuesday to delay a decision until at least January. Town Council President Shannon Hume said she wants residents to have a chance to weigh in. She also said the holidays make a quick decision difficult, so she would rather wait until after the new year.

"I think this impacts every resident," Hume said.

No date for a public hearing was scheduled, but Hume said it will be announced in advance.

Casey said other benefits of consolidating the polling centers include reducing election expenses, eliminating the elementary schools as voting locations and allowing for improved supervision for election workers.

At-Large Councilor David Ringius and District 3 Councilor Donna Connors both said consolidated poll locations worked well during the general election. Connors, who volunteered as a poll worker this fall, said the experience with fewer locations was smooth, and that experience is why she supports Casey's recommendation.

Others on the council, including District 1 Councilor Julia Flaherty argued that keeping the 12 precincts intact is better for people who don't drive or use wheelchairs because they'll have a shorter distance to travel.

Braintree doesn't have another scheduled election until the town election on Nov. 2. Casey said he needs a decision by May 15 to be ready for that election.

This article originally appeared on the Braintree Patch